Mold for casting the hulls of concrete ships



i 1.' H. HOLMGHEEN. MOLD FQR CASTING THE'HULLS 0F CONCRETE SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 5| 1918. .Y v

' Patented June 28,V 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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1. H. HOLMGREEN. MOLD FOR CASTING THE HULLS 0F CONCRETE SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-5.19.18.

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l. H. HOLMGREEN. MOLD FOR CASTING THE HULLS 0F CONCBETEvSHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT, 5| 19118'. l 1,383, 118. Patented June 28, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- u IE/Yoliirzg'reelz/ l. HQl HOLMGREEN. MOLD FORCASTING THE HULLS 0F CONCRETEl SHIPS.

I I APPLICATION FILED oc.5, 191s. A 1,383, 1 1 8. PatentedJune 28, 1921.`

`5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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JULIUS H. HOLMG-BEEN, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS MOLD FOR CASTING THE HUILES OF CONCRETE SHIPS.

Speclcation of Letters Patent.

Patented June 28, 1921.

Application filed October 5, 1918. Serial No. 257,054.

To all 107mm t may concern.'

Be it known that l', Juntos il. l-loLrrcnnnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State ot Texas, have invented certain new and useful improvements in lviolds i'or Gastin@` the Hulls oi' Concrete Ships, otv which the 'following is a specilication.

This invention relates to molds -for casting` the hulls oi ships and other floating craft from concrete or similar plastic material.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved mold or form simple and durable construction from which the cast or molded hull may be conveniently and expeditiously removed without the necessity oli withdrawing the form in sections or as a whole in order to release 'he molded prod uct.

A further object is to provide a mold having' a receiving doelt associated therewith add adapted to receive the cast hull from the mold, means beingprovided tor floating the hull out oi the mold into the dock and suhsequently floatingl said hull trom the doelt into a launching bay or channel, 'thereby elii'ninating liability of fracture or undue. strain on both the mold and hull during t'ansition oiE the latter from the mold to the launching,` hay or channel and entirely dispensing with the employr'cnt ott ways from which vessels are at present launched into the water.

The invention Jr'urther aims to provide a stationary or permanent mold which may be used repeatedly without the employment of tho usual temporary exterior scall'olding Il without the necessity oli removing' or ssembling the mold 'to permit launching the vessel.

.li iurther object is to provide means 'for insuring the elevation of the hull on an even heel duringv the discharge ol said hull 'from the mold.

The invention 'iurther contemplates the nfovision of suitable sleeves or tliimbles in the Walls of the stationary mold, said sleeves `weine' adapted to receive anchoring bolts 'for holdingl the inner and outer walls ot the mold in proper position during the nnilding Iation and also serving to permit the passage of water therethrough after the hull has been cast and it is desired to l.float said hull out ot the moldi 5.; chamber.

Ii further object in view is to wprovide a mold including an inner wall havinga re taining or buttress wall spaced laterally therefrom to provide an intermediate chamber for the workmen when attaching and releasing the anchoring bolts or otherwise periorming worlr in connection with the the molding operation, said inner wall beine` provided at its upper portion with an olfset constituting a walkway for the 'workmen when introducing concrete within the moldingcompartment or when adjusting the cross beams for regulatingthe vertical movement of the hull within the mold.

A still further object of the invention` is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability, and efliciency.

Other and incidental objects will appear during the course of the detaileddescription of the invention. In the drawings` wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters designate correspondingr parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a top plan view oi' a combined mold and receiving dock constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showingl the hull within the molding chamber and ready to he released therefrom,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. l is a similar view taken on the line 4l-4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line 5 5 oi' Fig. 2, Y

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. l, and showing the cast or molded hull supported on keel blocks within the receiving dock to permit the application of an exterior linish thereto,

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view showing` the means employed for controlling the vertical movement ot the hull within the molding' chamber when releasing` the hull therefrom,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the regulating means shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view showing the adjusting means detached and a closure or plug fitting in the upper end of the anchoring rod to close fthe'threaded opening therein,

Fig. l0 is a vertical sectional view show- 55 its junction with the retaining Wall 15 is ing the manner of holding the inner and outer Walls ofthe mold in position and the manner of supporting the reinforcing rods Within the molding compartment during the molding operation, Y

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective VVview of a portion of the outer Wall of the mold with the anchoring rods removed to vpermit Water to passthrough the sleeves when floating the hull out ofthe molding chamber,

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view showing the manner of molding or casting the ribs of the vessel, and

Fig. 13 is a vertical `sectionalvieiv taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12, showing the manner of reinforcing the ribs.

The combined mold and receiving dock forming the subject matter of the present Vinvention* includes an elongated body portion 5 formed of concrete or other suitable material and preferably constructed a situ at a pointl convenient to the launching bay or channel, said body portion being provided with a transverse bridge Wall 6 dividing the'same into front and rear compartments, one of which constitutes the molding chamber 7 and the other a dock 8 adapted to receive the cast Y or molded hull from the chamber 7 .Y Y

The body portion comprises an inner Wall 9 which constitutes the outer Wall of the molding chamber 7 andan. outer or buttress Wall 10 spaced laterally from the Wall 5 to forman intermediate passage or cham-V ber'll so that Workmen may obtainready access to the exterior of the chamber 7 dur- Y ing the molding operation. The inner and outer Walls 10 and 11 of the body are connected by a plurality of vertical` reinforcing Webs orA partitions 12 and one or more horizontal partitions 13, there being suitable openings 11i formed in the vertical Webs or partitions 12 to permit 'Workmen to ypass from one compartment tothe other and also to permit the passage of Water entirely around the bottom of the mold when floating the cast or molded hull out of the moldpreferablyV offset to provide a Walkway 1G for the Workmen when introducing concrete Within the molding` chamber or performing Vother Work in connection With the molding operation. The transverse'bridge Wall 6 is also reinforced by Webs or partitions 17 rand is provided With a plurality of openings 18 Y through Which Water may flovv from the chambers formed bythe webs 17 in theV bridge Wall into the receiving Vdoclrwvhen it is desired to lill; the latter with Water preparatory to receiving the castor moldedA It Will' hull from the molding chamber. here be noted that the bridge Wall 6 terminates below theV upper edge of the retaining Wall 15 so as to permit the hull being floated from the molding chamber into the receiving chamber Without interference from said bridge fwall. `The forward end of the receiving dock is normally closed by suitble gates 19and on the bottom of said dock' are a seriesof keel blocks 20 uponwhich the Vcast hull is adapted to rest, as best shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, so as to permit the workmen to apply an exterior coating or other finish to the hull. The hull 21 when resting on the keel blocks -Within the receiving dock will preferably be centered With respect thereto and held in such position. by Vsuitable stays 22 which Vengage shoulders or ledges 23 inl the adjacent Walls lof the dock, as shovvn.V

chamber. Fitting Within theopenings V24 are metallic thimbles 26, the outer edges of which are flared toform flanges 27 which are embedded in the adjacent faces of the Wall 9, as best shown in Fig. 11 of the` drawings. Y

The vinnervvall or shell of the mold 28 is preferably' formed of one or more relatively thin metallic plates 28 and'is spaced from the outer Wall 9 of the mold to form the molding chamber 7, the Walls ofthe moldingV chamber being supported in spaced Vparallel relation to each other by means of rod supporting members 29 having` theiropposite ends provided with threaded sockets 30 one of which is adapted to receive the threaded end of the adjacent anchoring bolt 25 and the other theV threaded end of an auxiliary bolt 31. The rod supporting members 29 are formed with circumferential ygrooves 32 which form Vseats for suitable reinforcing rods which are preferably disposed within the molding chamber prior to introducing concrete therein. The reinforcing rods 33 extend lvertically and horizontally of the molding chamber as Well Vas :diagonally thereof and said rods are preferablysecured in their circumferential grooves'or seats by means of tie Wires (not shown) 'and if desired-said rods may betied together at ini tervals in order to form aV strong reinforcing structure. Arranged VWithin the molding chamber 7 are spaced strips of Wire fabric 34 and bearing against the exterior faces of said strips of fabric are substantially frusto conical Washers 35 preferably formed of cement and having conical shaped openings 36 formed therein to permit the passage of the anchoring bolts and 31.

Temporarily secured to the inner face of the wall 9 and covering the openings therein is a sheet of Wire netting 37 and covering said Wire netting is a relatively thin metallic plate 38 and one or more strips of Waterproof paper 39, said elements together constituting a finishing lining for the inner face of the outer Wall 9 of the mold. The wire netting 37 preferably extends only a short distance up the sides of the mold but the Waterproof paper 39 extends the entire height of the mold. Inasmuch as the Wire netting 37 is of the open mesh type, Water may readily pass through the sleeves 26, after the anchoring bolts 25 are removed, and thence through the mesh of the Wire netting and dislodge the surfacing lining When water is turned into the chambers il for the purpose of floatingthe hull out of the molding chamber. ln order to retain the surfacing lining temporarily in position on the Wall 9 of the mold, toe anchoring bolts 25 are omitted from certain of the sleeves 2e and suitable Wooden plugs are driven into said sleevesV and the Wire netting, metal plate and paper strips constituting the lining` secured to said wooden plugs by small nails or similar fastening devices capable of iieing readily Withdrawn from the Wooden plugs to release the surfacing lining by the action of the Water when the latter is admitted for the purpose of tloating the hull. lt will, of course, be understood that the openings 2e will be relatively close together at the bottom of the mold Where it is desired to admit Water for the purpose of floating the hull, and that said openings near the upper sines of the mold Will be relatively few and far between, the only purpose of these latter openings being to accommodate plugs to support the surfacing` lining. ln assembling the n'iold to cast the hull of a ship, the anchoring bolts 25 are first threaded into the sockets and said bolts 25 passed through 'the open mesh of the outer strip of Wire fabric 34, after which the washers are positioned against the wire netting 34 and 'the bolts 25 passed through said washers anil` through the surfacing lining and adjacent sleeves 26, nuts i9 being snbseql'iently threaded on the bolts 25 to secure the parts in assembled position, as best shown in l() of the draWinO's. The re- 'infoi-cina;- rods 33 are then positioned Within the molding chamber 7 and tied in the manner be fore stated, after which the inner 7ire screen material 35i is placed against the rod supporting members 29 and the bolts 3l threaded into the adjacent sockets formed in said bolt supporting members. The Washers 35 are then fitted over the bolts 3l and the inner plate 28 positioned thereagainst, so that by threading nuts Lil on the bolts 3l, the parts may be firmly retained in position. With the parts in the position. shown in F ig. l() of the drawings, the concrete is poured, shoveled, or otherwise introduced into the molding chamber '7 and tamped or otherivi e, as desired so as to form the Walls of the hull of' the vessel, as `will be readily understood.

ln order to form the rudder post of the hull7 a filling bloclr i2 is provided, said block being preferably formed of enacting sect-ions connected by tie bolts or rods a3, the heads and nuts of Which are countersunlr in the adjacent bloeit sections, as indicated at Lil in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The sect-ions comprising the filling bloeit are formed with marginal grooves which, when the sections are assembled, register with each other to form a chamber for the reception of concrete which when molded into shape produces the rudder post i6 of the hull. The upper ends of the block sections t2 are curved to conform to the lovver face of the stern of the hull While the side Walls of the blocks are inclined or tapered downwardly so as to permit said blocks to be Withdrawn with the hull from the molding chamber When iioating the hull to released position. lt will, of course, be under stood that after the hull is removed from the molding chamber, the block sections :i2 amdetached, thus leaving the rudder post spaced from the stern post of the hull to sermit the attachment of the usual rudder and propeller. The hull of the vessel is pro vided at spaced intervalsivith vertically disposed reinforcing ribs and in order to form these ribs the inner Wall 23 of the mold provided with offset portions conforn'iing to the shape of the ribs i7 and preferably formed in sections detachably unitedl by suitable straps or cleats i9 fitting over studs 59, as best shown in i2 of the drztivings. rlfhe ribs Li9 are reinforced and strengthened by the provision of a plurality .of vertically disposed reinforcing rods 5l which are connected by securing stirrups 52 and also by brackets or arms 53, the ends of which are bent laterally at 5i and provided with threaded openings for engagement with the threaded ends of the adjacent anchor-inc' bolts 25. inclined or diagonal reinforcing bars 55 also preferably form av connection between the rods or bracketsr 53 and certain of the anchoring bolts 25, shoivn.

The body portion 5 is provided at spaced intervals with reinforcing lugs 56 preferably cast integral with the inner Wall 9 and in which are embedded anchoring rods 57, each provided with a terminal anchor 58, the

lower face of which is recessed for the reception of the head 60 of the adjacent anchoring rod, as best shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. The upper end of each anchoring rod 57 is provided with an enlarged head 61 having a conical socket 62 formed therein, the walls of which are threaded for engagement with the correspondingly threaded end of an adjusting bolt 63. .The bolts 63 eX- the head V61 of each rod 57 is preferably disposed iush with the walkway 16 and is provided with a countersunk portion 65 adapted to receive a suitable plugor closure `66Vwhich latter is threaded inthe socket 62 when the beam 64 and threaded bolt 33 are detached so as to prevent dirt from entering the threaded socket 62 and clogging or otherwise obstructing the same.

In operation, the inner shell or form 28 is placed in juxtaposition with respect to the outer wall of the mold and the reinforcing rods placed Within the moldingchamber in the manner shown in Fig. 1() of the drawings,l after which concrete is poured, shoveled or otherwise introduced into the molding chamber. After the concrete of which the hull is formed vhas become thoroughly set or solidified, the nuts and anchoring bolts 25 are'withdrawn by the workmen in the chamber 11 and water is conveyed by Y means of a pump 67 from a suitable vsource ofV supply into the chambers within the Y bridge wall 6 and thence into the receiving be Ylighter than the othei1 and tend to oat.

or rise more quickly, said hull may be maintained on an even keel during its vertical travel to the top of the mold by adjusting the cross beams 64, as will be readily understood.. IAi'fter the hull-has been floated in a .vertical plane to a position above the receiving dock, the water in the dock is eX- hausted or discharged therefrom, thus allow ing the hull to settle within the dock and rest on the keel blocks 20. The inner shell or form 26 may be removed either-before yreleasing the hull from the molding. chamber vor V'after the hull has been transferred to the receiving dockV for application of an eX- terior finish thereto. After the inner shell has been removed and prior to the applica-` of the vessel, the lat-ter may be readily. loat- Y ed into the launching bay or channel by opening the gates 19, as will be readily understood. By exhausting the surplus water in both the receiving dock and molding chamber, the latter may be again used. for molding a hull, thus permitting'the device to be used over and over again without the employment of temporary exterior scaffolding and without the necessity of withdraw? ing the form in sections or as a whole in order to release the molded product. The construction and arrangement of the mold also eliminates liability of Vfracture or undueV strain on both mold and hull during transition of the latter from the mold to the launching bay or channel and entirely dispenses with the Vemployment of awaysv from which vessels are usually launched into the water.

While l have described in detail the method employed in constructing and floating the bulls of concrete ships, it may be here stated that said method forms the subject matter of a separate application, eX- ecuted of even date herewith.y and that no claim is made in this application thereto, the present invention being confined to the mechanical construction of the mold or apparatus per se. Y

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: i Y

1. A mold for casting the hulls of ships trom Aconcrete comprising a chamber constituting a mold. a docking chamber adjacent0 thereto, and a dividing wall common to -both Y chambers, said chambers being in communication with cach other over said dividing wall.

2. A.niold for casting` the hulls of ships from concrete comprising a chamber conforming to the shape of the hull to be cast and constituting a mold, a *docking-chaine ber disposed in junta-position to the first `mentioned chamber, and a dividing wall common to both chambers, said chambers being in communication with each other over Vsaid dividing wall.

3. A mold for casting the hulls of ships from concrete including a body portion hav- Ving a bridge wall dividing the body portion into spaced chambers one of which consti- Ytutes a mold and the other a dock adapted body portion and dividing saidvbody portion into spaced chambers one of which constitutes a mold and the other a. dock adapted to receive the cast hull trom said mold, and a gate forming a closure -.tor one end oi. the receiving dock,

[i mold for casting the hulls ot ships irom concrete including an outer term having a buttressing wall spaced therefrom to form an intermediate chamber, an inner 'form spaced from the outer form to form a molding compartment, the buttressing` wall being extended above the outer form of the mold to form a retaining wall7 there being openings formed in thewall ot the outer v`erm and communicating -with the intermediate chamber whereby water introduced into the intermediate chaml'ier will pass l li said openings and float the cast hull nro Y out oil` the molding compartment.

(3. i mold 'for casting the hulls oi' ships from concrete including an outer form having a buttressing wall spaced therefrom to iorm an intermediate chamber, the buttressing wall being extended above the outer for ,i te form a retaining wall and said outer form being offset at its junction with the retaining wall to 'form a walkva. an inner form spaced from the outer form to produce an intermediate molding oompartment,there beine' openings formed in the outer wall and communicating with the intermediate chamber to permit the passage et water through said openings, into the molding chamber to iioat the hull therefrom.

7. A mold for casting the hulls of ships from concrete including an elongated body portion the outer wall of which constitutes a buttressing wall, an outer form spaced from the buttressing wall to form a. circumiter-enti al passage, spaced partitions disposed within the passage and communicating with each other to form a plurality et chambers7 a bridge wail disposed within the body portion and Forming one end et a receiving` doelt, said bridge wall being provided with chambers having openings therein communicating with the receiving docln an inner form spaced Jfrom the outer form to 'form a molding compartment? and a gate 'forming a closure ter one end oi"- the receiving docle.

there being opcninejs :Formed in the outer wall of the molding compartment to permit the passage of water therethrough for the purpose of releasing the cast hull from the mold S. i mold for casting the hulls et ships from concrete including an elongated body portiom the outer wall of which constitutes a buttressing wall, an inner form spaced 'from the buttressing wall to form an intermediate chamber, the outer Jform being oliiset to form a walkway and the buttressing wall being extended upwardly above the walkway to produce a retaining wall, a bridge Wall of less height than the retain ing wall and forming one end of a receiving doc lr7 an inner term spaced trom the outer 'form to produce a moding chamber, there being openings formed in the outer wall of the mold and openings formed in the bridge wall and communicating with the receiving dock, and means for introducing water simultaneously into the receiving dock and through said openings to release the hull from the mold.

9. EL mold for casting the hulls of' ships from concrete including a body portion the outer wall of which constitutes a buttressing wall7 an outer form spaced from the buttressing wall to form an intermediate chamber, the outer torni being et less height than the buttressing wall and offset with respect thereto to form a walkway, an inner form spaced from the outer form to form a molding chamber7 anchoring rods embedded in the body portion and having their upper ends provided with heads formed with threaded sockets, vertically adjustable cross beams extending transversely across the molding chamber and adapted to rest upon the molded product therein, and adjusting screws extending through the beams and engaging the threaded sockets in the anchoring rods for adjusting said cross beams7 there being openings termed in the outer torni of the mold to permit the passage of water therethrough for iioating the cast hull out of the mold.

10. A mold for casting the hulls of vessels from concrete comprising inner and outer forms spaced apart to form a molding chamber I sectional blocks having registering grooves v'formed in the mating faces thereof for forming the rudder post of the hull, the sides of said blocks being inclined downwardly and said blocks being removable with the hulli'trom the molding chamber, and means for introducing water within the molding chamber and beneath the cast hull for releasing the 4hull and sectional blocks from the mold.

11. A mold for casting the hulls et ships from concrete comprising inner and outer walls spaced apart to produce a molding chamber, one of said walls being provided with spaced openings having sleeves seated therein, means disposed within the molding chamber tor supporting reinforcing rods, and anchoring bolts extending through the sleeves and engaging the rod supporting means, the bolts within certain of the sleeves being adapted to be removed to permit the passage of water therethrough for lioating the east hull out of the mold.

l2. A mold for casting the hulls of ships from concrete comprising inner and outer walls spaced apart to form a molding cham` ber7 the outer wall being provided with openings having sleeves seated therein, a linishing lining for the inner face of the outer Wall and normally 'covering the openings therein, rod supporting members arranged Withinthe molding chamber, and anchoring bolts extending through the sleeves and engaging .the rod Supporting members,v the bolts Within certain of the sleeves being adapted to be removed to permit the passage of Water therethrough for dislodging the finishing lining and ioating the cast hull out of the mold.

13. A mold for casting the hulls of ships from concrete comprising inner and outer Walls spaced apart to lorm an intermediate molding chamber, ,the outer Wall being thicker than the inner Wall and provided with openings having sleeves fitted therein, rod-supporting members disposed Within the moldingv chamber, anchoring bolts extending through the sleeves and detachably engaging the rod supporting members, auX- iliary anchoring bolts extending through the inner Wall of the molding chamber and engaging said rod supporting members, and

nuts engaging the anchoring bolts for holding the parts 1n assembledposition during the molding operation, certain lof the anchoring bolts being adapted to be removed from the sleeves to permit the passage oi p ing secured to the inner face ofthe outer,

Wall and normally covering the openings therein and comprising an outer layer of oraminous vmaterial7 an, inner layer of waterproof material and an intermediate imperforate plate, rod supporting members arranged Within the molding chamber, and anchoring bolts extending through the openings and engaging the rod supporting members the bolts Within certain oi"- the openings being adapted to be removed to permit the passage of Water therethrough for dislodging the finishing lining and Heating theroast hull out of the mold.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

VVJUraUs rr HOLMGREEN. [L a] 

